Time interval indicating device

Abstract

A device for indicating the passage of two or more time intervals is provided. In one embodiment, the device includes a base portion with a user interface and a light portion. The light portion includes three lights of different colors that are disposed in a vertical arrangement above the base portion. The user interface includes a display and a keypad for programming the device with one or more time durations, and for associating one or more of the lights with each time interval. A controller is in communication with the user interface and operatively coupled with the lights to illuminate and turn off each light during its associated interval. The device may include an audio section linked to the controller for further indicating the intervals or transitions therebetween by outputting one or more sounds.

1. A device for indicating at least a first time interval and a second time interval, the device comprising:
 a plurality of lights, the plurality of lights including a first light illuminating during the first time interval and a second light illuminating during the second time interval, the second time interval following the first time interval; 
 a keypad for providing inputs that a) select whether the device operates in a first device mode or a second device mode, b) establish a first mode total length of time when the device is in the first device mode, and c) establish a second mode duration for each of the at least first and second time intervals when the device is in the second device mode, the keypad including an incremental input and a decremental input that toggle the device between the first device mode and the second device mode, and an enter input that selects whether the device operates in the first device mode or the second device mode; 
 an electronic display distinct from the plurality of lights and responsive to keypad inputs to prompt a user to select a) whether the device operates in the first device mode or the second device mode b) a first mode total length of time when the device operates in the first device mode, and c) the second mode duration for each of the at least first and second time intervals when the device operates in the second device mode; and 
 a controller in communication with the keypad, the display, and the first and second lights, whereby the controller receives inputs from the keypad and produces outputs to the display, the controller controlling illumination of the first light during the first time interval, and controlling illumination of the second light during the second time interval, the controller also determining a) appropriate requests for user input depending upon whether the device is selected to operate in the first device mode or the second device mode, b) a first mode duration for each of the first and second time intervals by subdividing the first mode total length of time when the device is in the first device mode, and c) a second mode total length of time by summing the second mode durations of the at least first and second time intervals when the device is in the second device mode; 
 wherein a user can determine whether the first or second time interval is pending by illumination of the first or second light. 
 
   
   
     2. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the controller operates to subdivide the first mode total length of time into third and fourth time intervals in accordance with a predetermined ratio when the device is in the first device mode. 
   
   
     3. The device as recited in  claim 2  wherein the predetermined ratio provides for the third time interval equal to eighty percent of the first mode total length of time or more, and the fourth time interval less than or equal to twenty percent of the first mode total length of time. 
   
   
     4. The device as recited in  claim 2  wherein the first light illuminates during the third time interval and the second light illuminates during the fourth time interval. 
   
   
     5. The device as recited in  claim 4  wherein during the illuminating of the first and second lights in the first and second device modes, the display shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in the respective first mode and second mode total length of times. 
   
   
     6. The device as recited in  claim 4  wherein during the illuminating of the first and second lights in the first and second device modes, the display shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in the pending time interval. 
   
   
     7. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein during the illuminating of the first and second lights, the display shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in the second mode total length of time. 
   
   
     8. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein during the illuminating of the first and second lights, the display shows a continuously updating decremental timer for the time remaining in the pending interval. 
   
   
     9. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first and second lights each comprise one or more light emitting diodes. 
   
   
     10. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first and second lights are disposed in a substantially vertically orientation. 
   
   
     11. The device as recited in  claim 10  wherein the first and second lights are viewable about approximately 180° of a circumference coaxial with a vertical axis through the device. 
   
   
     12. The device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an audio section in communication with the controller for outputting one or more audible signals relative to the first and second intervals, or to indicate a transition therebetween. 
   
   
     13. The device as recited in  claim 12  wherein a first audible signal is output relative to a portion of the first interval and a second audible signal is output relative to a portion of the second interval. 
   
   
     14. The device as recited in  claim 12  wherein the audio section further comprises a sound recording means for recording an audible signal for output by the audio section. 
   
   
     15. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the display shows the time of day in a third device mode. 
   
   
     16. The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first and second intervals in the second device mode comprise different fractions of the total length of time. 
   
   
     17. The device as recited in  claim 2  wherein the first and second time intervals are set independently of each other in the second device mode. 
   
   
     18. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a programming mode during which the incremental and decremental inputs establish the first mode total length of time for operation in the first device mode and establish the second mode duration for each of the at least first and second time intervals for operation in the second device mode. 
   
   
     19. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the keypad includes exactly one incremental input and exactly one decremental input. 
   
   
     20. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display automatically updates during toggling of the device to indicate whether operation of the enter input will select the first device mode or the second device mode. 
   
   
     21. A device for indicating to a user time intervals within a period of time, the period of time having a beginning and an end, the time intervals including an initial time interval starting at the beginning of the period of time, and a final time interval concluding at the end of the period of time, the device comprising:
 a light source, the light source emitting light having a first characteristic during the initial time interval and light having a second characteristic during the final time interval; 
 a user interface for selecting whether the device operates in a first device mode or a second device mode and for receiving inputs establishing the period of time in the first device mode and for receiving inputs establishing the initial time interval and the final time interval in the second device mode, the user interface including a keypad and an electronic display that is distinct from the light source and responsive to keypad inputs, the keypad including an incremental input and a decremental input that toggle the device between the first device mode and the second device mode, and an enter input that selects whether the device operates in the first device mode or the second device mode; and 
 a controller in communication with the user interface and the light source, the controller receiving the keypad inputs and providing outputs to the display, the controller controlling the light source to emit light having the first characteristic during the initial time interval and to emit light having the second characteristic during the final time interval, wherein the controller determines a) appropriate requests for user input depending upon whether the device is selected to operate in the first device mode or the second device mode, b) the initial time interval and the final time interval as predetermined portions of the period of time in the first device mode, and c) the period of time as the sum of at least the initial time interval and the final time interval in the second device mode. 
 
   
   
     22. The device of  claim 21  wherein the user interface comprises a liquid crystal display. 
   
   
     23. The device of  claim 21  wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes. 
   
   
     24. The device of  claim 21  wherein the light source comprises a multicolor light emitting diode. 
   
   
     25. The device of  claim 21  wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs stacked generally vertically. 
   
   
     26. The device of  claim 25  wherein the plurality of LEDs comprise at least two LED groups, a first LED group linked to the controller for illuminating only during the initial time interval, and a second LED group linked to the controller for illuminating only during the final time interval. 
   
   
     27. The device of  claim 26  wherein during the initial time interval the user interface shows a continuously updating decremental timer for time remaining in the initial time interval and during the final time interval the user interface shows a continuously updating decremental timer for time remaining in the final time interval. 
   
   
     28. The device of  claim 21  further comprises a sound recording means coupled to the controller for recording an audio signal for output by a sensory indicator. 
   
   
     29. The device as recited in  claim 21  wherein the first characteristic is a first color and the second characteristic is a second color different from the first color. 
   
   
     30. The device of  claim 21 , wherein the device includes a programming mode during which the incremental and decremental inputs establish the period of time for operation in the first device mode and establish the initial time interval and the final time interval for operation in the second device mode. 
   
   
     31. The device of  claim 30 , wherein the keypad includes exactly one incremental input and exactly one decremental input. 
   
   
     32. The device of  claim 21 , wherein the display automatically updates during toggling of the device to indicate whether operation of the enter input will select the first device mode or the second device mode. 
   
   
     33. A time interval indicating device comprising:
 a first light; 
 a second light; 
 a programmable user interface for selecting whether the device operates in a first device mode or a second device mode, the programmable user interface also for establishing a first mode total length of time when the device operates in the first device mode, and for establishing a second mode duration for each of at least first and second time intervals, the second time interval following the first time interval and the at least first and second time intervals comprising a second mode total length of time during which the device operates in the second mode, the user interface including an incremental input and a decremental input that toggle the device between the first device mode and the second device mode, and an enter input that selects whether the device operates in the first device mode or the second device mode; 
 an electronic display distinct from the first and second lights and responsive to user interface inputs to prompt a user to select a) whether the device operates in the first device mode or the second device mode, b) the first mode total length of time when the device operates in the first device mode, and c) the second mode duration for each of the at least first and second time intervals when the device operates in the second device mode; 
 a controller in communication with the programmable user interface and the first and second lights, whereby the controller receives input communication from the programmable user interface and produces output communication to the display, the controller tracking elapsed time and determining a) appropriate requests for user input depending upon whether the device is selected to operate in the first device mode or the second device mode, b) a first mode duration for each of the at least first and second time intervals by subdividing the first mode total length of time when the device operates in the first device mode, and c) the second mode total length of time by summing the second mode durations of the at least first and second time intervals established by the programmable user interface when the device operates in the second device mode, the controller illuminating the first Light during the first time interval and illuminating the second light during the second time interval, wherein a user can determine whether the first or second time interval is pending by illumination of the first or second light. 
 
   
   
     34. The device of  claim 33 , wherein the device includes a programming mode during which the incremental and decremental inputs establish the first mode total length of time for operation in the first device mode and establish the second mode duration for each of the at least first and second time intervals for operation in the second device mode. 
   
   
     35. The device of  claim 34 , wherein the user interface includes exactly one incremental input and exactly one decremental input. 
   
   
     36. The device of  claim 33 , wherein the display automatically updates during toggling of the device to indicate whether operation of the enter input will select the first device mode or the second device mode.